David genese and adam schmidt



PatentedApr. 7 1891.

,Zay 'ewe. Y

(No Model.) -K

D. GENESE 87A. SCHMIDT.

GAB. GOUPLING.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, DAVID GENESE AND ADAM SCHMIDT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

oAR-ooUPL-ING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,876, dated April 7, 1891.

Application filed September 3, 1890. Serial No. 363,854. (No model.)

'residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of carcouplings in which a hook on one draw-head is adapted to become automatically engaged with a slotted projection on the opposing draw-head and provided with means forholding said hook in an inoperative position and for actuatingit in such manner as to uncouple the cars from either side or from the car top or platform.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts in an automatic carcoupling, as hereinafter more fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective of one of our improved draw-heads and the coupling devices. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section ofthe same viewed from the rear. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the two draw-heads coupled. Fig. 5 is a perspective of alink device for usein connecting with a carhaving the ordinary pin-coupling. Fig.

Gis a plan of a modified device for coupling by means of a pin and link.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates adraw-head having a substantially rectangular interior. One side of the lower wall of the draw-head 1 is provided with a forward projection 2, having a longitudinal .Y slot 3, and provided with an upward and rearward inclined nose '4, that overhangs the forward portion of said slot and forms a shoulder 5, for engaging a hook on the opposite draw-head, as hereinafter explained. Adja- Vcent to the projection 2 is a recess G, formed partly in the front portion of the lower wall of the draw-head and partly in the frontlower portion of one of its side walls to afford space for the slotted projection on the opposing draw-head when the cars are coupled.

In the upper portion of each draw-head is pivoted a coupling-hook 7 to engage the slotted projection 2 of the opposite draw-head.

Each hook 7 is formed with a tubular transverse body portion 8 to receive a pivot-pin 9,

`which is journaled at its ends in the opposite On the rear sidev of the hook-body 8 is a lug or project-ion 11, on the under side of which bears the headed upper end o f a vertical pin 12,that is supported in a vertically-adj ustable sleeve 13, secured in thelower rear portion of the draw-head. The pin 12 is surrounded by a spiral spring 14, which has a bearing at its lower end on the sleeve 13 and at its upper end bears against the under side of the pinliead, which in turn forces the projection 11 upward and sopresses the hook 7 down into position for engagement with the slotted and shouldered projection 2 of the corresponding draw-head on the adjoining car. By loosening a nut 15 on the screw-threaded exterior of the sleeve 13, said sleeve can be adjustedver- The rear upper portion of the draw-headis provided with a slot 16 for passage of alaterally-swinging lever 17, that is pivotally supported between lugs 1S, arranged in front and rear of said slot. The lower end of this lever 17 is bifurcated or provided with lateral downward and outward extended arms 19, adapted to act on the upper cam-shapedor double-inclined surface 2O of the projection 1l for the purpose of raising the hook 7 from engagement with the slotted and shouldered projection 2 and for holding orlocking the said hook in an elevated position when required, so that it will notengage an opposing draw-head. rlhe lever 17 may be operated from either side of the car or from its topor platform by means of suitable rods or levers 21, connected with the upper end of the lever 17 and arranged in any convenient andappropriate manner for ready manipulation without passing between the cars.

While the cars are coupled the lever 17 hangs in a vertical position with its arms 19 on the opposite sides of the projection 11 without exerting any pressure thereon. [n order to uncouple, it is only necessary to draw orv push the upper end of the lever 17 to one side,l thereby causing one of its arms 19 to ride'upward onto one of the inclined upper` surfaces o-f the projection 11, so as to depress said projection, and consequently raise the hook 7 sufliciently'to disengage it from the projection 2 of the other draw-head. If it is desired to lock the hook 7 in an elevated position, so that it can be held from engagement with another draw-head, the movement of the lever 17 will be continued until an arm 19 bears on the fiattened apex 22 of the projection l1, while the other'arm 19 of said lever serves as a stop against the upper wallof the draw-head to prevent thelever 17 being tilted too far. While the hooks 7 vof the opposing draw-heads are in this elevated and locked position cars can be safely brought in close contact with each other without liability of coupling. Then the hook 7 is raised,the pin 12isdepressed,thereby com-pressiugthespring 111, which immediately throws the hook down into operative position as soon as the projection 11 is relieved from pressure by again throwing the vlever 17 into a vertically-depending position.

In the lower wall of each draw-head is a buer 23, of anysuitable construction, totake up the shock of the opposite projection 2 on the otherr draw-head when the cars come forcibly together. It will ,be observed that the hooks 7 are each curved backward and.

provided with beveled faces to facilitate engagement with the slotted and shouldered projections 2 of the respective draw-heads.

The various parts of th-e coupling are so proportioned and arranged in such relation to each other as to allow for reasonable variations in the height of the draw-heads of adjacent cars, which can thus be readily coupled tho-ugh not of the same height, while the construction of the draw-heads and their attachments is such as to permit free play of the parts in all required directions without liability of disengagement under strain and jars.

For the purpose of connecting with cars not fitted with this coupling, but having drawheads provided with the ordinary couplingpin, we propose to use a link 24, having in one end a slot 25 for engaging said pin of the ordinary draw-head and provided at thejother end with a depending arm 26,0f any suitable length, to enter the slot 3 of the projection 2, and preferably provided in front and rear with notches 27 at different heights to engage the shoulder 5 and the rear end of the slot 3, respectively.

Instead of the link 24 we may pivot on the ends of the hook-pin 9 a depending bail 27, provided with a link 28, adapted to be engaged with an ordinary coupling-pin on another car when said pivoted bail is raised to a substantially horizontal position.

Either the link 24 or bail 27V can be provided for use in coupling with foreign cars or in an emergency incident to breakage.

The parts of our improved automatic coupling are few and simple, of durable and ine-X- pensive construction, and can be readily repaired or replaced when required. It will also be observed that should either of the hooks 7 become broken or disabled while in use the other will be suflicientv to maintain the coupling. We would have it understood that these hooks 7` should be sufficiently heavy to operate eifectively even without the aid of the springs 14, so that said springs can be omitted, if desired, or, if retained, they may be arranged in any suitable or convenientmanner.

It will be observed that if by any accident a car should overturn it will readily become nnconpled from adjoining ears, and so lessen the liability of pulling them from the track.

What we claim as our invention is- 1. In an automatic car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head having onone side a slotted and shouldered forward projection and a hook pivoted in said draw-head to engage a corresponding slotted and shonl dered projection of an opposing draw-head, of a depending laterally-swinging lever pivoted in the rear of the draw-head to depress and lock the rear end of' said hook, with its forward end in an elevated position, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head having on one side a slotted and shouldered forward proj ection and a hook pivoted in said draw-head to engage a corresponding projection of an opposing draw-head, of a vertical spring-pressed pin located beneath the rear end of said hook to throw the forward end down into operative position and a depending laterally-swinging leve-r pivoted in the rear of the draw-head to depress the rear end ot' said hook and elevate its forward end, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head having on one side a slotted and shouldered forward projection and provided on the othersidewith an elastic buffenof a hook pivoted in said draw-head and provided with a rearward projection,y a vertical spring-pressed pin located beneath andbearing on said projection to throw down the for- IOO ward end of the hook, anda depending lat-erally-swinging lever pivoted in the rear of the drawhead to depress the rear end of said hook and elevate the forward end, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head having on one side a slotted and shouldered forward projection and a hook pivoted in said draw-head and provided in rear of its pivotal point with a rearward-projecting lug` having an inclined upper surface, of a vertical spring-pressed pin located beneath and bearing on said lug or projection to throw down the forward end of the hook and a depending laterally-swinging lever having arms to engage and depress said lug against the action of the springpressed pin and elevate the forward end of the hook,substantially as described.

5. In an automatic car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head l, having the slotted and shouldered projection 2 and recess 6, of the pivoted hook 7, having tubular bodyportion 8 and lug 11, the pivot-pin 9, the vertical spring-pressed pin 12,located beneath and bearing on the lug 11, and the depending laterally-swinging lever 17, substantially as described.

6. In an automatic car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head 1, having slotted and shouldered projection 2, recess 6, and buffer 23,*of the pivoted hook 7, having` lug 7. In an automatic car-coupling, the combination, with a recessed draw-head 1, having a forward projection 2, provided with slot 3, inclined nose 4, and shoulder 5, of the pivoted spring-pressed hook 7 and the depending laterally-swinging lever 17, substantially as described.

8. In an automatic car-coupling, the combination, with the recessed draw-head 1, having the slotted and shouldered forward projection 2 and pivoted hook 7, provided with lug l1, of the vertical pin 12, the adjustable sleeve 13, the spring let, the nut 15,and the depending laterally-swinging lever 17, substantially as described.

9. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head 1, having slotted forward projection 2, of the link 24, provided with slot 25 and arm 26, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID GENESE. ADAM SCHMIDT. Witnesses:

R. E. SEALLY, H. G. FANT, J r. 

